The Murder in the Bunkhouse North of Auburn

A brutal and bloody murder was committed some time Friday night or early yesterday morning in a cabin on the farm of J. W. Nails, a mile north of Auburn. The victim was a young Japanese named Charley, who contracted for work to be done by other Japanese and himself. While he slept the assassin crept to his bedside, beat him into insensibility and then chopped off his windpipe. The victim's blood spurted in streams over the bed clothes and even spattered a window curtain above his head. The murderer, having completed his horrible deed, escaped through the door, leaving a trail of blood across the room. Two other Japanese lived in the house and one of these is now in jail on suspicion.

Several months ago Charley entered into a written contract with J. W. Nails for the clearing of some land, and acted as head man for a party of Japanese, with the title of 'boss.' The party lived in a cabin on Mr. Nails's farm that was fitted up with bunks. As the work closed down, one by one the Japanese left, until only three remained. Charley entered into an agreement with Mr. Nails by which he was to plant a patch of potatoes on shares, while his companions found work at other places in the neighborhood. These Japanese lived a sort of isolated life, being clannish and unable to speak more than a few words of English. Charley was more advanced in the ways of the Americans, and this probably made him their leader. So far as can be learned at present, there were never any disturbances among them.

Yesterday morning between 7 and 8 o'clock Andy, one of the Japanese living in the cabin, came to Mr. Nails's house and told him in language that required a very liberal translation that 'Charley was sick and wanted some paper.' Mr. Nails could not understand what Andy meant by 'paper,' but accompanied him to the cabin. As they approached the place Andy managed to say that 'Charley was dead.' Mr. Nails looked into the room occupied by Charley, an L attached to the main part of the house and connecting by a door, and saw at once that a horrible murder had been committed. As soon as possible Mr. Nails sent word to Sheriff Woolery and Coroner Horton. The latter officials and Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald took the first train for the scene of the tragedy, and on learning the nature of the case wired back to the city for Prosecuting Attorney Miller to follow. The investigating officers, followed by Mr. Nails, the Japanese who had reported the case, and a few others, went immediately to the cabin of death and made an official survey of things.

When Coroner Horton stepped through the door leading into the room where the murder had been committed, a blood-curdling sight met his eyes. In a bunk at the east side of the room lay a human being or something that resembled one. Clotted blood concealed the dead man's features, but underneath could be seen cuts and bruises that showed how fiendish had been the actions of the murderer as he dealt blow after blow at the figure on the bed before him. On looking closer, it was seen that the dead man's throat had been cut straight in about the width of a hatchet blade, until the wind pipe was completely severed and bulged out of the gory gap. The horribly mutilated figure lay on its back, with one leg drawn up as if in the agony of death and the other straight out, the muscles being extended to the utmost. Near the head lay an opium pipe, covered with blood, and above the head the curtain of a little window, as it fluttered, showed the blood-red spots. The bed clothes were saturated in blood and when Coroner Horton made a closer examination of the room he found a series of blood spots leading from the bed to the door. The corpse was pulled out of the bunk and then it was noticed that among the clothes was a buckskin pocketbook. When the blood had been removed from Charley's face the extent of the wounds could be seen plainly. Over the right eye and extending back to the hair was a cut that went to the skull. At the junction of the nose and right eye was a deep hole, made evidently by jabbing some sharp instrument into the flesh. The end of the nose was cut and both cheeks bruised. The right temple also showed signs of blows. At the foot of the bunk was a trunk, in the lock of which was the key. The contents did not appear to have been disturbed, but Mr. Nails said that Charley had a written contract about clearing land. This could not be found anywhere. At the north side of the room was a cupboard containing a few dishes, and leaning against one end was an old musket, loaded and at full cock. The door that led into the main part of the cabin was locked on the side where the dead man lay, and did not appear to have been tampered with. Then again the blood spots led to the door going outside, which allowed conclusively that the murderer did not go back to the main part of the house through the door from Charley's room. Outside the house the murderer was tracked to a point where he jumped a fence that runs west from one corner of the house and left two blood spots. Those who followed the trail said it ran through a hop field to an old drying house, where they thought the murderer put on his shoes. Further trace was lost there.

On examining the main part of the house, which is a kitchen, with a double row of bunks on the north and east sides, it was found that the two Japanese, Andy and another man called George, occupied the same bunk. There was a table and fireplace in the room, but nothing that gave any clue to the murderer. Persistent search was made for the weapon with which the deed was committed, but the inevitable conclusion was that the murderer had taken it away with him. From the investigation Andy, the Japanese, stood by and was evidently so frightened that it could not be supposed that he committed the crime or had anything to do with it. Coroner Horton and Prosecuting Attorney Miller, who arrived in the afternoon, tried to get some information out of him, but owing to his inability to speak English could not learn anything. They finally found a woman who talks Japanese, and she talked with Andy. He told the officials that he knew nothing of the murder and never heard a sound. His roommate, whose name is George, got up before it was daylight and he supposed he went to work. It was discovered by Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald that George did not go to work when he left and that his employer was looking for him. McDonald went in search of the missing Japanese. Later Coroner Horton proceeded to impanel a jury and then discharged them subject to call of the sheriff. The Japanese named Andy was placed under arrest on suspicion and brought to the city in charge of Deputy Sheriff Jack McDonald and is now in the county jail. Coroner Horton and Prosecuting Attorney Miller arrived at 4 o'clock. The body was taken to Bonney & Ayres's undertaking rooms. It was not viewed last night by any of the Japanese residents of this city. Charley was about 24 years old, short, thick-set, and wore a thin mustache. Many theories are afloat about the murder, and of course that of the hatred of the Chinese against the Japanese is among them. So far as the facts at present such an assumption is unfounded.